Page 135 of Give My Everything
I purse my lips when I see who’s standing there.
“Mr. Calloway. Ben’s at work.”
“I’m not here to see Ben, actually. I’m here to see you.”
I clutch the door, feeling nervous and uncomfortable and feeling guilty about feeling that way.
The guy might be a slime-ball, but he’s not going to hurt me, right? He’s Ben’s dad.
I take a deep breath and let it out, trying to calm my nerves. “Do you want to come in?”
He grins, looking like a shark who has just captured his prey. “Thank you. This shouldn’t take too long.”
I step to the side, opening the door for him and then closing it behind him.
“Can you just give me a second?” I ask, rounding the corner to the kitchen. “I need to turn off the kettle.”
“Take your time,” he calls after me.
I click it off and grab my phone, shooting off a message to Ben to let him know his dad is here. Everything might be fine, but I’ve watched enough serial killer documentaries to know that sometimes, you just need to let someone else know when a creepy guy comes to your house.
“You said you wanted to talk to me?” I say, finishing up preparing my cup of tea as Calvin walks into the kitchen.
His eyes wander around the space, probably taking in the stark white interiors.
“To be frank, Miss Wallace, I’m here to ask you what I can give you that will make you end this clearly fake relationship with my son.”
I nearly drop my cup. “I’m sorry…what?”
He grins and takes a step toward me.
“We both know whatever is going on between the two of you isn’t genuine. There aren’t real feelings and emotions. Love isn’t a part of the picture. I don’t know what my son promised you in order for you to agree to this little game you’re playing, but I can promise you my wealth and connectionsfarexceed his, and I can almost guarantee I can double whatever he’s offered you.”
I inhale deeply through my nose, feeling lost and confused and…angry. I feel angry that Calvin is here trying to buy me, trying to control and manipulate me.
“I don’t know what you think,” I finally reply, “but the way I feel about your son is genuine. He isn’t offering me anything.”
Calvin laughs, the sound irritating my insides.
“We both know that’s a lie. At the veryleasthe’s offering you a port in the storm.”
I shake my head. “I don’t understand what that means, but—”
“It means he’s giving you a place to go to hide yourpregnancyfrom a family that might be…less than receptive, isn’t that right?”
My head tilts back and I square my shoulders.
“Listen up, Mr. Calloway. I don’t care what you have to say anymore. You have no right to come in here and make crazy accusations about your son.”
He cocks his head to the side, assessing me.
“You know, Miss Wallace, I might have misjudged this situation entirely.”
“Great. Let’s just call it a day and you can go.”
“No, no, no. That’s not what I mean. What I mean is I assumed you both came into this from the same vantage point, thought you both understood what you were doing. But what it sounds like to me is that my son has wrapped you around his little finger…and thatyouhave fallen in love with him.”
My nostrils flare. “I’m going to say right now that none of this is your business.”
